| During the early evolution of swimwear, fabric | | | | movie about her successes in life |
| was more important than style. | | | | During the 1930s, the two piece swimsuit took its |
| Swimwear was present as far back as 2000 | | | | next step in evolution. This was mainly the result |
| years ago in Rome. Wall art nearly 2000 years old | | | | of the bathing beauties promoted by Mack |
| depicts women in two piece swimsuits similar to | | | | Sennett. Movies hit the box offices featuring the |
| the bikini style popular in the early 70s. | | | | bathing beauties and transformed the theme |
| Unfortunately swimwear disappeared from the | | | | behind swimwear from being a cover up to a |
| ancient times until the mid 18th century. During | | | | fashion statement exposing the female physique |
| this period in history a full length gown appeared | | | | to its moral and legal limits. |
| on the horizon. The bathing gown was made of | | | | The Bikini is born |
| heavy wool. It had full length sleeves and weights | | | | On July 5 1946, the bikini, named after a nuclear |
| sewn into its hem to insure that it would not rise | | | | testing location" "Bikini Island" made its first debut |
| up or float. This explains the name, bathing gown. | | | | on the runway of a Paris fashion show. Led by |
| Between the weight of the wool when it was | | | | the fashion crazed Europeans who were trying to |
| wet and the addition of the weights in the hem, a | | | | maximize their exposure to the sun and acquire |
| woman would surely sink if she attempted to | | | | the desired so called Hollywood tan, a scaled |
| swim. | | | | down version of the two piece swimsuit emerged |
| Re-emergence of the two piece swimsuit | | | | and the Bikini was born. No less than two |
| The 19th century saw the re-emergence of the | | | | designers were wrestling at the doors of the |
| two piece swimsuit. It consisted of a gown that | | | | patent office during mid 1940 to get their design |
| was worn as a pull over shirt covering the | | | | approved and secured. |
| shoulders to the knees with a pair of loose fitting | | | | It took another decade 'mid 1950's" before the |
| pants worn underneath. In the early 1900's, 1907 | | | | bikini would receive full acceptance in the U.S and |
| to be exact, Annette Kellerman from Australia, | | | | Canada which was mainly driven by Hollywood |
| traumatized Americans by wearing a swimsuit | | | | and its stars sporting the latest two piece |
| that exposed her neck, legs and arms while | | | | swimsuits. The trend to shrink the bikini to its |
| executing one of the first water ballet | | | | many designs took off in the mid 1960s. In the |
| performances in a see through tank on stage. | | | | 1970s, California designers were pumping out |
| She was immediately arrested for indecent | | | | bikinis in every shape, form and color. With all of |
| exposure. Annette continued to push the limits | | | | this excitement, it wasn't long before the re-birth |
| and later performed in a form fitting swimsuit | | | | of the bikini was solidified in society by the |
| with a collar, long legs and arms. Annette's custom | | | | introduction of the string bikini from the French |
| form fitting suits led a fashion frenzy that | | | | Riveria. Brazil was the last in line when the thong |
| developed into a large following of dedicated fans, | | | | or tanga emerged. |
| a career in the movie industry which included a | | | | |